🐣 Phase One: Breed Selection and Brooding

Choosing the right layer hen breed is the primary condition for successful farming. Different breeds vary in laying performance, adaptability, and feed conversion efficiency.

• Recommended Superior Breeds:

  • Hy-Line Brown/White: High laying rate and good feed conversion ratio, making them a mainstream choice for commercial farming.

  • Lohmann Series: Docile temperament and dark eggshell color, suitable for markets demanding premium brown-shelled eggs.

• Brooding Management (0-6 Weeks):

  • Temperature Control: Chicks are extremely sensitive to temperature. It must be strictly controlled at $32-35^\circ \text{C}$ ($89.6-95^\circ \text{F}$) and gradually decreased each week thereafter.

  • First Drinking Water: Chicks should immediately be given warm water containing glucose or a multi-vitamin supplement upon arrival to help them recover their strength.

🏡 Phase Two: Housing Environment and Facilities

A comfortable and hygienic henhouse environment is the material basis for ensuring the health and high productivity of layer hens.

• Principles of Site Selection:

  • High and dry terrain with good drainage, far from urban areas and major traffic routes.

  • Adequate water and power supply.

• Ventilation and Humidity:

  • Importance: Good ventilation removes ammonia, carbon dioxide, and moisture from the house, keeping the air fresh.

  • Humidity: The ideal relative humidity is $50\%-70\%$. Too high leads to bacterial growth; too low can cause respiratory diseases.

• Lighting Management:

  • Principle: Gradually reduce light stimulation during the rearing phase. After the start of laying, the light intensity and duration (typically $14-16$ hours/day) must be constant and sufficient to stimulate ovarian development and sustained egg production.

🍎 Phase Three: Scientific Feeding and Nutrition Management

Layer hen feed accounts for the vast majority of farming costs. Scientific nutritional ratios directly determine the laying rate and egg quality.

• Stage-Specific Feeding:

  • Starter Feed: Highest protein content, ensuring rapid growth and skeletal development.

  • Grower Feed: Lower protein and calcium content to manage body weight and sexual maturity time.

  • Layer Feed: Highest protein and calcium (critically important) content to sustain high production and eggshell quality.

• Water Management:

  • Drinking water must be clean and adequate. Water deprivation for $24$ hours can significantly reduce egg production; $48$ hours can stop laying completely.

• Feeding Method:

  • Adopt the principle of feeding less but more frequently to ensure the feed is fresh and to prevent waste and spoilage.

🩺 Phase Four: Disease Prevention and Biosecurity

“Prevention first” is the core strategy of layer hen farming. The economic loss from a large-scale disease outbreak can be devastating.

• Biosecurity System:

  • Isolation Barrier: Strictly control the entry and exit of external personnel and vehicles to the farm.

  • Regular Disinfection: Routinely and thoroughly disinfect the henhouse, equipment, and surrounding environment.

  • Manure Disposal: Promptly remove and safely dispose of manure to reduce pathogen breeding.

• Vaccination Schedule:

  • Develop a scientific and reasonable immunization program based on local epidemiological characteristics, covering core vaccines like Newcastle Disease, Avian Influenza, and Infectious Bronchitis (IB).

• Daily Observation:

  • Daily observation of the flock’s mental status, feed intake, water consumption, and droppings is necessary to early detect abnormal individuals and isolate them for treatment.

Summary: High-efficiency layer hen farming is a systematic project involving careful management, strict disease control, and scientific nutrition. Continuous learning and practice are key to maximizing laying rates and economic benefits.